CFL mock draft: Who might be going where in the opening rounds of 2018

Here is the who's-who of the 2018 talent pool and where they might end up in the first two rounds of Thursday's CFL draft

Canadian talent is the engine that runs every successful Canadian Football League team. Here is the who’s-who of the 2018 talent pool and where they might end up in the first two rounds of Thursday’s CFL draft (6-8 p.m., TSN4/5, with later rounds streamed on TSN.ca and TSN GO).

ROUND 1

1. Montreal – The Alouettes have immediate needs on the offensive line and at receiver. They don’t have a second-round pick, and it’s easier to find receivers later than starting offensive lineman. O-linemen just became an even greater priority with several of the top young Canadians — Mark Korte, Ryan Hunter, David Knevel and Dakoda Shepley — all getting National Football League looks. The Als could take Korte, out of the University of Alberta, but may fear he will return home as a free agent – just like fellow Golden Bears product Simeon Rottier did – after his first contract expires.

Als pick: Trey Rutherford, OL Connecticut

2. Hamilton – The Tiger-Cats appear strong with their current Canadian content, including three former Eskimos drafted during the Eric Tillman era: Ted Laurent, Justin Capicciotti and Shamawd Chambers. And, in an embarrassment of riches, Hamilton has four of the top 15 picks in this draft. They could take any of the top players on either side of the ball, but if the NFL workouts don’t scare them off, taking the young offensive lineman from Spruce Grove makes a lot of sense. And it means more protection for former Eskimos pivot Jeremiah Masoli.

Tiger-Cats pick: Mark Korte, OL Alberta

3. B.C. – History has shown that Ed Hervey likes to take the best players, even if he has to wait on them. He’s confident and patient. In 2016, as the Eskimos’ general manager, he took Tevaun Smith and Arjen Colquhoun, even though both Canadians had signed in the NFL. Hervey is with a different team now, though, and one that has immediate Canadian needs. The choice could be between two players with Vancouver backgrounds: Dakoda Shepley, who signed with the New York Jets this weekend, and Rashaun Simonise, a big talented receiver who will be in a CFL training camp Day 1. Hervey may need an offensive lineman, but as a former receiver, he knows the value of playmakers and needs a Canadian starter from Round 1 in this draft.

Lions pick: Rashaun Simonise, WR Okanagan Sun

4. Ottawa – The Redblacks appear to have needs on the offensive line, at receiver, at linebacker and in the secondary. Most CFL coaches think Mark Chapman is one the best players in the draft. If he’s still available at that point, it becomes an easy choice for GM Marcel Desjardins.

Redblacks pick: Mark Chapman, WR Central Michigan

5. Saskatchewan – The Roughriders made a huge jump from from five wins in 2016 to 10 wins in Chris Jones’ second season. With the addition of Zach Collaros and with what they hope will be a good draft this week, the Riders can become a legitimate Grey Cup contender in his third. The former Eskimos coach loves versatile defensive players who can run as well as help on special teams. And, in this case, the best defensive player in the draft falls right in the laps of the lucky Riders.

Roughriders pick: Godfrey Onyeka, DB Wilfrid Laurer

6. Edmonton – With so many of the top Canadian prospects signing in the NFL, the Eskimos will have a chance to pick the top player in this draft according to the final CFL Scouting Bureau rankings: Massive offensive lineman Ryan Hunter. Then again, history might scare them off. Remember back in 2012, Tillman rolled the dice with tackle Austin Pasztor as the second overall pick. That pick acquired from Toronto was seen as the key to the Ricky Ray trade. Pasztor was six-foot-seven and 320 pounds as a three-year starter at Virginia. Six years later, he now has 44 starts as a Canadian offensive lineman in the NFL. Once seen as ‘the next Bruce Beaton, Chris Morris or better’ for the Eskimos, Pasztor is now a pipe dream. Not to forget, looking back to Edmonton’s top pick in 2016 under Hervey, Iowa receiver Tavaun Smith is still in the NFL, too. So, Brock Sunderland and this new Eskimos regime don’t want to take the risk of getting burned again – like Tillman and Hervey did – by drafting Canadians who make it in the NFL. Look for a safe choice this time by Edmonton. Help on defence is needed most, even if the pick doesn’t start for a year or two.

Eskimos pick: Jackson Bennett, DB Ottawa

7. Winnipeg – The Bombers need another good Canadian receiver, but if Chapman and Simonise are gone, they could try to trade back and get extra picks. If not, the best player available who isn’t signed by a NFL club is probably Rice’s Peter Godber. The challenge for GM Kyle Walters is Godber hired controversial agent Jonathan Hardaway, who has a history of excessive contract demands and holdouts. The Bombers could be the first team to take a ‘future,’ and that could come in the form of a tough guy from Windsor out of the University of British Columbia, Dakoda Shepley, who signed with the New York Jets. If he comes back to the CFL soon, Shepley would be a steal for Walters and head coach Mike O’Shea at seventh overall. Looks like it’s lucky seven again for Bombers, who got Matt Nichols from Hervey for a seventh-round pick back in 2015.

Blue Bombers pick: Dakoda Shepley, OL UBC

8. Calgary – It’s obvious the Stampeders have real depth concerns on their offensive line coming into the 2018 season. Even if it brings the headache of dealing with Hardaway, Godber’s talent and Day 1 availability is worth considering. But the safer choice is a local player from the University of Calgary Dinos program, Ryan Sceviour, who will likely be a multi-year CFL starter.

Stampeders pick: Ryan Sceviour, OL Calgary

9. Toronto – For GM Jim Popp and head coach Marc Trestman, this will be too good to be true. The two have a history of playing all-Canadian offensive lines in Montreal, and six-foot-nine Brantford, Ont., native David Knevel, who started at prestigious Nebraska, is worth waiting on. Another ‘future’ goes off the board.

Argonauts pick: David Knevel, OL Nebraska

ROUND 2

10. Hamilton – At 30 years old, Ted Laurent is still one of the best defensive lineman in the CFL. But depth is always a good thing, and even though nothing has been written about them being related, how could a club go wrong with two Laurents?

Tiger-Cats pick: Julien Laurent, DT Georgia State

11. Hamilton – With five picks in the top 20, the Ticats can take a ‘future.’ The best player left on the board happens to be from Ontario. Better yet, he was the top-ranked player overall by the CFL Scouting Bureau.

Tiger-Cats pick: Ryan Hunter, OL Bowling Green

12. B.C. – The Lions need offensive lineman, and getting Peter Godber in the second round would be a steal. Three-year starter at the U.S. university level. Hervey strikes gold if this unfolds.

Lions pick: Peter Godber, OL Rice

13. Ottawa – Former Eskimos GM-turned University of Montreal head coach Danny Maciocia’s Arnaud Gendron Dumouchel was one of the most impressive lineman during CFL Week in Winnipeg. The giant tackle from Quebec would be a solid pick for a club that resides only 200 km to the west.

Redblacks pick: Arnaud Gendron Dumouchel, T Montreal

14. Saskatchewan – After taking a potential star defender in Round 1, Jones goes for the defensive double dip. Another good addition to the Riders’ defence falls right in his lap again. Listen closely and you might even hear a “Yee-haw!” coming from deep in the Prairies.

Roughriders pick: Isaiah Guzylak-Messam, DB Wilfrid Laurier

15. Hamilton – Daniel Petermann was one of the young players who improved his stock during CFL Week in Winnipeg. He had a solid senior season, too, and could even go as high as No. 9 overall to the Argos, but some see him as nothing more than a solid career role player. If still available, making a safe choice with a local kid who played in the Hamilton area would seem to make a lot of sense for the Ticats. Edmonton traded this selection for now-retired pass-rusher John Chick and a fifth-round pick.

Tiger-Cats pick: Daniel Petermann, WR McMaster

16. Winnipeg – O’Shea and Walters were both defensive players. They lost Canadian linebacker Sam Hurl in free agency. A good replacement is available.

Blue Bombers pick: Micah Teitz, LB Calgary

17. Calgary – Why not make it twice as nice and take a second Dinos offensive lineman? Chances are some teams like Darius Ciraco as much as his projected first-round teammate, Ryan Sceviour. And the rich get richer.

Stampeders pick: Darius Ciraco, OL Calgary

18. Toronto – The Argos will be very happy if Regis Cibasu is still undrafted at this stage. At six-foot-three and 230 pounds, he brings great size and can be a slot receiver, a tight end or a fullback. The product of Macioccia’s Carribans program reportedly competed very well with the Americans down at January’s East-West game in Florida. This pick may leave divisional-rival Montreal in pain. The Alouettes need a Canadian receiver, and with two picks in the third round, were likely hoping the local young man would still be available.

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